The PTA regularly posts Dr. Deno’s Principal newsletters here on the PTA website. However, these back-to-school announcements warrant their own post!
Good morning,
The Lawton Elementary front office is back open and busy preparing for the year ahead. We hope you’ve had a great summer and are making the most of these final weeks.
We are excited to welcome 1st through 5th grade students back to the building on Wednesday, September 7thth (first day for kindergarten is September 12th). Bell times remain the same as last year. School entry bell will ring at 7:50am, with students expected to be in their classrooms and ready to learn at 7:55am daily. School dismisses at 2:25pm except on Wednesdays when it dismisses at 1:10pm. Please remember that while all other Wednesdays in the year are early release days, the first day of school is not and students will be released at 2:25
A few nuts and bolts to help prepare for the start of the school year:
- Enrollment Updates. If your plans have changed and your student will not be attending Lawton this year, please email kmcerise@seattleschools.org to let us know so that we can update our enrollment information.
- Teacher Assignments Coming 9/2. Teachers return the building on Tuesday, August 30th. Teacher assignments will be emailed to families by the end of day Friday, September 2nd.
- Medication Paperwork Due 9/6. If your student requires medications at school (this includes inhalers and epi-pens for emergencies), you must fill out a Medication Authorization Form, have it signed by a doctor, and bring both the form and medications to school on or before Tuesday, September 6th.
- School Supply Fee. We’re doing school supplies differently this year – all students will have supplies ready and waiting for them on the first day of school. In lieu of purchasing individual supplies, we will send instructions home in the first day packets for paying the $35 supply fee through The Source. If paying the school supply fee is a financial burden for your family, please email Kristina Cerise at kmcerise@seattleschools.org. and she’ll arrange a scholarship/waiver.
- Free and Reduced Lunch Applications. We encourage all eligible families to submit a new application for free and reduced-price meals now. The application is available online or you can request a paper copy from the front office.
- Health and Safety. The start of any school year comes with exposure to new germs. Please help us keep our students and staff as healthy as possible by keeping kids home any time they are sick. Students must be fever and vomit/diarrhea free for an entire 24 hours without medication before returning to school. Students should also stay home with any new Covid symptoms (see flow chart).
- Now Hiring Playground and Lunchroom Supervisors. We are looking for adults interested in working at Lawton 3-5 days a week to help with recess and lunchroom supervision. These people help us maintain safe and fun common spaces for students while our teachers have their lunches. The positions pay approximately $15/hour and work from 9:30am to 12:30pm. If you are interested (or know someone who is), please email Kristina Cerise at kmcerise@seattleschools.org.
- Volunteering. If you’re interested in volunteering at Lawton this year, please start (or update) your volunteer approvals HERE.
- September Dates. A full-year calendar will be included in your first day packet, but here are important September dates to mark on your calendar now:
9/2 New to Lawton Student Tour at 9am
9/7 First Day of School (Grades 1-5), no early release
9/12 First Day of School (Kindergarten)
9/16 Back to School Bash 5-7pm
9/20 Curriculum Night, 5:30 – 6:30
9/22, 9/23 School Picture Days
Your teacher welcome letters will contain more specific information about arrival and dismissal procedures and other school logistics, but we hope this email helps you get excited about and prepared for the year ahead.
We are excited to see you soon for another year of learning and growing together!
Sincerely,
Dr. Allison Deno, Principal
